Now that New York has a Senator to replace Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, there will be an election in less than two years for the Empire State's junior Senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, to defend her Senate seat.
Personally I find the two-year time frame a very long 'temporary' and perhaps, a violation of the 17th Amendment that was created just for situations like this, but nevertheless two years it is.
There will be a Democratic Primary for that seat and it will be interesting to see if Caroline Kennedy enters that primary. Or if Andrew Cuomo or someone else of their stature does. Senator Gillibrand will have the power of the incumbency, albeit a short one, but she will still be a relatively new political figure both nationally and at home.
Should she decide to enter the fray, I would strongly suggest to Ms. Kennedy that she consider starting immediately, and consider leaving behind the truly crappy and I am sure expensive consultants that led her through the current debacle.
As the world of politics slowly but clearly and ultimately finally empowers the average American through the power of technology, Caroline Kennedy through a legacy world clunker into the middle of the mix. In her father's and grandfather's time, the power play of back room, I wish to be considered would have worked exceptionally well. Today, it was like driving up in a huge old Cadillac wearing a fur coat talking about a friend of yours who is a Negro.
It might also be a nice idea to actually do something for some fellow Democrats both nationally and in New York State. She is a substantial fundraising draw and could be immensely helpful to people raising money in New York and beyond. Holding some events this summer at her $50 million summer estate would be a nice touch. Voting in any special elections is not a bad idea either.
Ultimately, I think Caroline Kennedy will fade back into the background, unable to achieve a quick pass to the Senate, I doubt very much if she is willing to work through the primary process and earn her seat like the rest of us.
If I am wrong, I have no doubt that she will be New York's Senator and will win that election.
If I am right, well then so was Governor Paterson. Because a free ticket to the U.S. Senate should be given only to someone who is willing to earn it under a different circumstance, and I assure you, Senator Gillibrand is that sort of person. Congratulations to her.
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Kathleen Parker: Caroline Kennedy Is No Sarah Palin
Kathleen Parker, one of the first conservative writers to call foul on Sarah Palin as a VP pick, is back this time sizing up Caroline...
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Caroline Kennedy Supports Gay Marriage In First Political Questionnaire
Caroline Kennedy is finally sharing some of her political opinions with the people she's campaigning to represent -- casting herself in the liberal tradition of...
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Caroline Kennedy Platform Emerges
In just a few days, Caroline Kennedy's bid to replace Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has acquired nearly all the trappings of a traditional New...
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Caroline Kennedy: I'll Have To Work Twice As Hard
NEW YORK — Caroline Kennedy emerged from weeks of near-silence Friday about her bid for a Senate seat by saying that after a lifetime of...
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Caroline Kennedy Paterson's Choice: Officials
The AP reports that officials are saying Caroline Kennedy will be New York's next senator: Officials say the daughter of the late President John F....
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New Yorkers Saying No to Aristocracy As Sole Qualifier In a Democracy
The forces of money and power in New York are trying to replicate what their counterparts engineered here in Colorado.
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Kennedy Found Out that Politics is for Politicians
A bruised Kennedy did the right thing, the only thing that she could do when her head bumped against the realities of political life, she dropped out before she was dumped.
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Date With Dynasty
For our first song of 2009, we are adding our guitars, drums and voices to the chorus of opposition to Caroline Kennedy's possible Senate appointment, which keeps seesawing to and away from inevitability.
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Caroline Kennedy: Don't Tear Down That Wall
I don't like to be too simplistic but you either love life in the public eye or you don't. I don't believe Caroline Kennedy loves it.
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Caroline Kennedy and the U.S. Senate
The notion that it would somehow be unfair to appoint Kennedy because she has not toiled in the House of Representatives for a decade should not be one that ordinary voters take seriously.
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An Anti-Kennedy Coalition: Radio Ranters and Intellectuals
The Empire State is a triumvirate uniting the House of Clinton, the House of Cuomo and the House of Paterson. Would reviving the Kennedy dynasty disturb this delicate ecological balance?
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Is Caroline Kennedy our Sarah Palin?
One of them has a law degree from Columbia and has co-written two critically acclaimed books about the Bill of Rights. The other has a journalism degree from college in general and had a memorable conversation with Katie Couric.
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The Populist Case for Caroline Kennedy
Caroline Kennedy's open support for marriage rights for gays and lesbians in an era when top liberal Democrats can't bring themselves to support it offers the best antidote to the Rick Warren blues yet.
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Caroline Kennedy Is A Good Choice...To Be An Ambassador
What does Caroline Kennedy bring to the position as the junior senator from New York that the current state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo does not bring? Does she know more about the law than an attorney general?
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Send Caroline Kennedy to Court of St. James
Obama should stop this torment that is being prepared for Kennedy by offering her the Court of St. James, the U.S. Ambassadorship to Great Britain.
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I don't say we must go back to having the governor always select replacements; states have differing views on how to do this, but we should at least consider the idea of having half the seats in congress filled by lottery, thereby denying professional career politicians the perogative of having it all to themselves. Lottery? To fill those sought after seats? Why not? Could it be any worse and certainly it would alleviate the worst of the problems where our "leadership" thinks the little people never really know what's going on "inside".
Incidentally, your first paragraph makes no sense. Congress IS the legislative branch. Are you talking about the judicial branch?
I would like to see her in a high profile position
where she could deal with privacy rights for average citizens
on the other hand- I was really put off by your headline-
Caroline was serving from birth, she didn't get a choice
and she has paid a very high price for the service her father,mother, and uncles gave to the country.
Forget the camelot, american royalty BS comments --
just the simple facts make me feel that we owe her some respect and kindness
With Patterson's selection he took something away from the citizens of NY and that is a direct line to the ear of POTUS. That something is called CLOUT.
Apparently, she is plenty on all. That's the path to real power.
J
She is so rooted in her convictions that she is willing to turn on a dime to change her views.
She is a poor fit for our state.
She will not win reelection and will be primaried. She cannot carry New York City and downstate. So if you think this is great, you are being dillusional. We New Yorkers are outraged, unless you come from upstate, which does not reflect the rest of the state. My phone has been ringing off the hook since yesterday. People have told me if Paterson appointed her, he is toast and that they will work hard to defeat her.